UAE AID TO PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000616


DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, S/SRAP/MBGOODMAN, SCA/P/TSPENCER
ALSO FOR EEB/RACHEL LEATHAM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2019
TAGS: PREL EAID EFIN PK AE
SUBJECT: UAE AID TO PAKISTAN

REFS: A) STATE 61218, B) ABU DHABI 574, C) ABU DHABI 485

Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) In our ongoing effort to keep the UAEG focused on Pakistan's
funding needs, the DCM on June 15 asked MFA Assistant Minister for
Political Affairs Ambassador Tariq al-Haidan about the status of the
$300 million pledged in Tokyo. Al-Haidan said that initial
distribution of funds was underway "to the displaced persons in
SWAT." Pressed to distinguish between the $300 million promised in
Tokyo and the $30 million promised more recently to S/SRAP Holbrooke
for IDP's (ref B),al-Haidan's understanding was that the IDP support
"comes from the $300 million pledged in Tokyo" (contrary to details
reported in Ref B) and said he had no instructions (perhaps no
visibility) regarding the remainder of the Tokyo pledge.


2. (C) As for the $30 million in IDP support, al-Haidan said some
would be channeled through UNHCR and some through other avenues.
PolChief learned that the local UNHCR office had no visibility on the
$30 million and needed help contacting the Khalifa Charitable
Foundation which -- according to official statements by the Minister
of State for Foreign Affairs over the weekend -- is overseeing those
funds. The Foundation's Executive Director told us June 14 that some
of the funds were already being expended through existing contacts in
the Government of Pakistan, to include funds for emergency food and
shelter. He held out the possibility of channeling money through
UNHCR without making specific commitments. We facilitated a June 15
meeting between the Foundation and UNHCR to encourage direct
coordination and since learned from UNHCR that they had a productive
dialogue -- although no particular amount was promised.


3. (C) Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD, ref C),
likely overseer of the larger Tokyo commitment of $300 million, told
EconChief June 14 that the funds had not yet been transferred to
ADFD. Post will continue to engage with ADFD in hopes of
facilitating coordination between UAEG donations and Pakistan's
needs.


4. (C) Comment: The UAEG's pledges are significant and well
intentioned, but execution can encounter capacity shortfalls and
bureaucratic delays. Post remains of the understanding that Abu
Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed promised $30 million in IDP
support in addition to the larger Tokyo commitment; it would not be
surprising if senior levels of MFA are nonetheless not privy to
details of decisions made at a higher (royal) level. We will
continue to seek clarification and emphasize the urgency of
Pakistan's funding needs; we recommend senior USG interlocutors do
the same when discussing the issue with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin
Zayed, who also heads the ADFD. End comment.

OLSON